News Release

SIU Concludes Investigation into ARWEN Discharge at Teenager in Oshawa

Case Number: 24-OFP-406   

Mississauga, ON (20 January, 2025) ---
On September 22, 2024, Durham Regional Police Service officers were dispatched to a home in Oshawa following a call to police regarding a domestic disturbance. Upon arriving, officers attempted to speak to a 15-year-old male who had barricaded himself inside his bedroom. A mental health unit consisting of an officer and nurse arrived to assist. After not hearing from the teenager for some time, officers decided to enter the room. As they entered, the teenager threw a metal pole in the direction of the officers. One officer discharged a conducted energy weapon (CEW) and another fired an Anti-Riot Weapon Enfield (ARWEN). The teenager was eventually taken into custody. He was not struck as a result of the ARWEN discharge, and he did not serious any serious injury. On his assessment of the evidence, SIU Director Joseph Martino determined there were no reasonable grounds to believe that an officer committed a criminal offence in connection with the use of his ARWEN against the man.

Full Director’s Report (with Incident Narrative, Evidence, and Analysis & Director’s Decision): https://www.siu.on.ca/en/directors_reports.php.

The SIU is an independent government agency that investigates the conduct of officials (police officers as well as special constables with the Niagara Parks Commission and peace officers with the Legislative Protective Service) that may have resulted in death, serious injury, sexual assault and/or the discharge of a firearm at a person. All investigations are conducted by SIU investigators who are civilians. Under the Special Investigations Unit Act, the Director of the SIU must

  • consider whether the official has committed a criminal offence in connection with the incident under investigation
  • depending on the evidence, cause a criminal charge to be laid against the official where grounds exist for doing so, or close the file without any charges being laid
  • publicly report the results of its investigations

Lisez ce communiqué en français.

Monica Hudon, siu.media@ontario.ca
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES